THE 2025 Somerset CCC annual Church Service will be taking place at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton on Sunday, August 17, ahead of the Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Warwickshire.

This match will also see the club celebrating their 150th birthday with a number of special events! Gates will open at 9:20am for those wishing to attend the service, which will begin at 9:30am.

Those attending the service are asked to enter via the Brian Rose Gates. The speaker this year is Rev. Jonathan Philpott who is Mission Development Advisor for the Diocese of Bath and Wells and who also plays club cricket in Somerset (alongside his son).

Club chaplain Rob Walrond said: “It’s wonderful to be having the annual cricket service at the beginning of the day celebrating 150 years of Somerset CCC, and to be doing so with members of St. James’ Church which has been physically connected to the boundary of the club through all this time. It will be a Service giving thanks for everything that Somerset Cricket has been and will continue to be.”

Those attending the service will sit in Block One of the Somerset Stand. Somerset CCC memberships or matchday tickets are required to gain entry to the church service.

Meanwhile Somerset have just announced the formation of “The Brian & Julie Foxwell Trust” designed to support the club in identifying, developing and inspiring high potential young cricketers across the county via the highly successful Player Pathway.

Building on the success of the existing State School Programme, this vital contribution will allow for the development of an enhanced Regional State School Programme which will provide opportunities for an additional 100 Somerset young cricketers at state schools. Focused on boys and girls in years 5, 6, and 7, it aims to unearth and develop cricketing talent, providing them with transferable skills through a comprehensive programme which emphasised potential over performance.

Brian Foxwell and his wife Julie, life-long supporters of cricket in Somerset at various levels, were longstanding members of Somerset County Cricket Club and wished to leave a legacy to assist those in state schools by providing a holistic pathway from grassroots through to the professional arena.

Somerset CCC CEO Jamie Cox said: “Somerset is the wonderful club that it is due to the quality of its people. Brian and Julie’s generosity and foresight in developing this initiative is truly wonderful and will ensure that so many more young players get to experience cricket. The Trust will be utilised via the Regional State School Programme and will initiate winter training, summer matches, and a summer festival, all of which will be tailored to help develop the core skills of young players in a supportive environment.

“This investment in quality coaching, facility use, and match organisation is designed to elevate cricket standards and inspire participants by demonstrating success routes through state education. Ultimately, the programme seeks to diversify cricket talent sources and make the sport even more accessible.”

Matt Drakeley, SCCC Director of Talent & Development who played up thorough the Minehead age groups, added: “This bursary will provide further opportunities for those in state schools to fulfil their potential. We have seen the immense value that the State School Programme can bring. And we sincerely thank Brian for his generous contribution which will ensure that we can extend this offer for years to come.”